Currently, it has 2 million customers for its overall services, of which more than one million are credit card holders.

The bank has witnessed a growing trend of new customers, he added.

It will also launch new digital features and services this year to enhance customer experience and expand client base under its 2018 digital banking strategies of ‘Remarkable Digital Banking Experience and Big Data’.

Among the new features is the Remarkable Credit Experience system to allow existing customers to sign up for a second credit card through ‘Instant Credit Approval’ by just accessing its website.

Another one is the QR Payment system which will allow customers to make payments for products and services by scanning QR code from Citi mobile application without any additional credit card charges. Next month, it will launch the LINE BCRM system to communicate and offer relevant promotions to customers based on their lifestyle preferences.

The bank has already deployed the ‘Merchant Recommendation Engine (MRE) or the Big Data’ processing system to tailor-made promotional offerings according to the individual needs of customers.

Citi also has Citi Pay with Points feature, allowing customers to redeem their Citi reward points instantly by mobile phone with partners such as Starbucks, Apple Store, Lazada, Thai Airways, Major Cineplex, and more than 10 popular online shops.

Yesterday it announced a partnership with Major Cineplex to further develop Citi Pay with Points on the API (Application Programming Interface) system to allow their customers to directly purchase a movie ticket with their Citi Rewards Points through the Major Movie Plus application, available on both iOS and Android mobile phone systems.

In this regard, the development of this system will help increase good experiences in terms of lifestyles for Citi credit card holders.

Niti Pattanapakdee, Chief Media Officer, Major Cineplex Group, said “this collaboration is another milestone. The company always aims to develop new innovations to facilitate the changing lifestyles of customers. The experience of buying movie tickets through this Citi API system is meant to serve the needs of Major Cineplex and Citi credit cardholders. The system can be used at 129 branches in Thailand.”

The action will allow subscribers to simultaneously access highlighted programmes on nine channels on one screen.

The programmes will include movies, sports events, documentaries, entertainment and children’s programmes. Subscribers seeking complete entertainment packages, or who want to enjoy global highlights, could easily change to their preferred channels.

Moreover, to celebrate the school holidays season, TrueVisions has added two new channels – Disney Junior and Nickelodeon – to the Gold package for young viewers.

Further information is available through the True outlets.

A “Sports Development Programme in School” caravan programme will encourage students to exercise for at least 30 minutes through activities, including an aerobic warm-up to songs educating them about nutrition and a football clinic in which a former national football team coach teaches students football techniques.

Sport is a great teacher, said a Thursday press release explaining the programme.

The caravan recently gave away Milo beverages to over 900 students at Piboon Prachasan School, which is under the administration of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) under the Ministry of Education.

The caravan roadshow will visit 1,600 schools, reaching 1.5 million Thai kids nationwide, from now until September 28.

Total revenue was Bt2.059 billion, an increase of Bt196 million or 11 per cent.

Profits stood at Bt772 million, up Bt68 million or 10 per cent from 2016.

Directors approved a dividend payment of Bt0.20 per share and stock will be given ex-dividend status on May 7, with dividend payments scheduled for May 23.

President Chanchai Phansopha said the 2017 financial performance represented an all-time high for the company.

Gross profit increased by 14 per cent over 2016, to Bt145 million, as a result of greater revenues from rentals and services, hotel operations and food and beverages – which together accounted for 63 per cent of total revenue.

The company is highly confident about its retail centre, the Market Bangkok on Rachadamri Road, which is expected to open at the end of 2018.

It is anticipated to substantially bolster revenue from rental. The sales team began offering spaces for rent in the second quarter of 2017.

The remaining spaces are still open for rent. Others are in the lease-approval process.

After the sales office for the Market Bangkok opened on the 10th floor of the Platinum Fashion Mall on January 18, rental spaces for fashion stores proved popular. A large number of clothing store operators asked to see the project mock-up.

The Market Bangkok will occupy approximately 20 rai and have a total construction area of 200,000 square metres, excluding the areas for the hotel and offices, plus rental area of 40,000 square metres.

There will be parking space for up to 2,000 cars. The retail area encompasses six floors.

President Wuttikiat Techamongklapiwat yesterday said the company would invest about Bt3 billion to open two to three outlets annually over the next five years, as well as renovate existing stores and acquire new sites for future expansion.

“We expect to increase the total number of Robinson stores, both in department stores and lifestyle centres, from currently 46 to 59 within the next five years, as well as to increase the total retail space operated by the company from currently 950,000 square metres to 1.2 million square metres,” he said.

Wuttikiat said that the company will invest about Bt3 billion this year on business expansion, including the opening of new branches, renovating existing stores, and buying new land plots.

The company will open a Robinson Lifestyle Shopping Centre in Chon Buri at a cost of Bt1 billion.

Wuttikiat said that the planned opening of the lifestyle centre comes as a response to the economic expansion and increasing purchasing power in the Eastern region, especially in Chon Buri, due to the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

He said the new branch would be located behind Amata City Industrial Park and is scheduled to open within the third quarter of this year. It will be the 47th Robinson in Thailand and the 21st branch in the Robinson Lifestyle format. The branch will have two floors, spanning more than 36,000 square metres. It will be the third Robinson in Chon Buri, after Pacific Park Sriracha Shopping Centre and Central Plaza Shopping Centre Chon Buri.

“Our company has planned this new branch in Chon Buri because we consider the province to have high purchasing power due to the large industrial parks in the province and its vicinity, enabling the population to have consistent income,” Wuttikiat said.

“In Amata City Industrial Park alone, there are more than 400,000 workers. We anticipate a significant economic expansion within the province, especially after investment in various infrastructure projects, including the extension of Airport Link to the Eastern region and other projects that will make travelling to the East much simpler.”

Wuttikiat said that another Robinson branch is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter and will also be in the Robinson Lifestyle Shopping Centre format. The new branch will be in Chaiyaphum province, which will be the 48th Robinson and the 22nd location in the Robinson Lifestyle format. The Bt800 million investment covers more than 32,000 square metres of land and aligns with the government’s policy for economic development and urbanisation in the country’s secondary cities.

“Chaiyaphum’s economic growth is considered great due to the textile industry and agriculture. The government also has economic stimulation plans via secondary city tourism that aims to boost a province like Chaiyaphum to grow similarly to the other major cities,” said Wuttikiat.

He said that the company also plans to buy other plots for future expansion and to renovate existing Robinson stores this year.

For last year, Robinson Plc registered a net profit of Bt2.74 billion and a growth rate of 8.7 per cent (excluding special items, where the company records the reversal of bad debts and receipt of compensation for flood victims in the fourth quarter of 2016).

The company said the growth came from continuous increases in rental income, with an occupancy rate of as high as 99 per cent, along with an increase in other income, and effective expense management, as well as the opening of three new branches: Robinson Lifestyle Petchaburi in May, Robinson Department Store Mahachai in November, and Robinson Lifestyle Kampaengpetch in December.

Robinson Lifestyle Shopping Centre attracted 7.9 million visitors each month, at a growth of 12.9 per cent, last year. The company believes that the expansion of the two branches this year will positively impact the company, according to Wuttikiat.

Additionally, in 2018, Robinson plans to compete in retail more vigorously with two major marketing strategies. First, it will develop the online market by offering what it calls “a perfect omnichannel” to customers. Wuttikiat said that Robinson plans to leverage the number of branches spreading across the country and the online shopping system “Click and Collect” at shopping.robinson.co.th to integrate the online and offline shopping experience.

“Currently, the company’s online business is growing at around 150 per cent and we anticipate a continuous growth in this segment, which will strengthen our department store and shopping centre businesses,” he said.

The company is also set to launch two new products to tap the super-premium market. These are the Synda Hygienatic, said to be, Thailand’s first mattress that is “100 per cent anti-dust mites” and washable with water, and Herva, described at first C-curve cooling gel mattress that can adjust the sleeper’s body temperature.

Suphat Pantisoontorn, chief executive officer, said the company has extensive experiences of over 22 years in creating and developing innovative mattresses with excellent quality to help raise the standard of consumer’s sleep and life.

“The best mattress is a mattress that gives a good night’s sleep,” Suphat said.

According to Synda’s research, consumers are paying more attention to their health and bodies than ever. Amid the changes to the urban lifestsyle, they tend to go to sleep very late, yet wake up earlier in the morning. This has an impact on the quality of sleep.

“Consumers are looking for products that meet their requirements and select the best to fulfil their quality of life,” he said.

In collaboration with Ookbee and C Channel Japan, the joint venture will offer online lifestyle content and another new business to be announced soon.

Through this partnership, Kasikornbank (KBank) aims to attract a broader, younger audience.

Managing director Thanapong Na Ranong said Beacon VC is a venture capital arm of KBank that aims to invest in startups that support the bank’s business advancement.

Ookbee is a promising Thai startup that has redefined the digital publication landscape in Southeast Asia, he said.

Ookbee provided e-books with content from publishing companies. These have diversified with professional- and user-generated content, focusing on new trends and digital innovations, and offering comprehensive online payment channels.